Ethan Agarwal, a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur, is making headlines by entering the race for California Governor in 2026. The 40-year-old, known for founding the fitness app Aaptiv and fintech platform The Coterie, is already drawing comparisons to Zohran Mamdani, the Indian-origin candidate running for mayor of New York.
In a recent interview with Axios, Agarwal said, “I understand that I’ll be compared to Zohran Mamdani. But I believe in capitalism and meritocracy, and I think California needs business and tech acumen to solve its problems, not just more political rhetoric.”
He went on to explain that while he shares many progressive values, his policy ideas are rooted in practical, business-driven approaches, especially when it comes to issues like poverty, energy, and education.
“What I or any other candidate thinks about Mamdani is irrelevant,” Ethan added in an interview with NewsNation. “California has enough issues to solve. My focus will remain squarely on the unique challenges we face here.”
Who is Ethan Agarwal?
Born in Montreal in 1985 and raised in Los Gatos, California, Ethan grew up under the mentorship of his father, Vinod Agarwal, a successful semiconductor entrepreneur. His father’s journey from academia to founding LogicVision, a publicly traded company, played a pivotal role in shaping Ethan’s vision of blending education with entrepreneurship.
After completing his education at Johns Hopkins University and earning an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Ethan initially worked in finance and consulting, gaining key experience at Lehman Brothers and McKinsey & Company.
This background in finance and strategy is something he plans to leverage in his run for governor, where he hopes to apply business principles to government challenges.
Ethan’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2016 with the launch of Aaptiv, an audio-based fitness app that became an instant success.
With over 200,000 subscribers and major investors, including Amazon and Disney, Aaptiv quickly established Ethan as a key figure in the Silicon Valley tech scene. After selling Aaptiv, Ethan shifted his focus to fintech, co-founding The Coterie, a platform aimed at simplifying access to modern financial services.
Ethan’s vision for California
Agarwal argues that capitalism is the best way to lift people out of poverty and create long-term economic solutions for the state. With California’s energy crisis in mind, Ethan advocates for using technology and innovation to solve environmental challenges, all while driving economic growth.
He calls for the need for an education system that prepares students for future careers, particularly in tech and green industries. Ethan strongly supports policies that embrace California’s diverse population, seeing immigration as an engine of growth.